Aymeric Laporte, who won the World Cup with Spain, has caught Barcelona's attention as a possible addition to their central defense. Spanish media report that the club has already made initial contacts with people close to the player to assess the feasibility of a transfer.
Laporte returned to Athletic Club only last summer after playing in Saudi Arabia, and Barça values his experience, left-footedness, and strong understanding with Pau Cubarsi during the World Cup. His reported release clause of around €12.5 million makes him an attractive option in the current market.
Within Barcelona, there is hope that Laporte could bring the same kind of leadership and stability that former Athletic defender Iñigo Martínez provided. However, news of the interest has been met with caution in Bilbao. Athletic is still wary after the drawn-out transfer saga involving Nico Williams and wants to avoid similar tensions.
Laporte is considered a key player for Athletic, having chosen to return for personal reasons, but talks could be complex. Athletic’s new coach Edin Terzic recently commented that this situation is not new, hinting at the strained relations between the clubs.
At this stage, discussions remain exploratory, with Barcelona likely to proceed carefully given the delicate circumstances and their plans to strengthen the defense under Hans Flick.
